A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving oxygen at 2 L/min via a nasal cannula. The nurse recognizes the client is receiving which of the following inspired oxygen concentration?

A) Contact: While contact precautions are important for preventing the transmission of infections, they primarily apply to clients with known or suspected infections that can spread through direct or indirect contact with the client or their environment. Protective isolation goes beyond contact precautions and involves comprehensive measures to protect immunocompromised clients from all potential sources of infection.

B) Airborne: Airborne precautions are necessary for clients with infections that spread through the airborne route, such as tuberculosis or measles. While respiratory infections can pose a significant risk to immunocompromised clients, the focus of care for clients after hematopoietic stem-cell transplant is on preventing all types of infections, not just airborne ones.

C) Droplet: Droplet precautions are used for infections transmitted through respiratory droplets expelled when a person coughs, sneezes, or talks, such as influenza or pertussis. While respiratory infections are a concern for immunocompromised clients, the broader approach of protective isolation is more appropriate for clients after hematopoietic stem-cell transplant, as it encompasses all potential routes of infection transmission, not just droplet spread.

D) Protective: Clients who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplant are profoundly immunocompromised due to the destruction of their immune system and are highly susceptible to infections. Protective isolation, also known as reverse isolation, is necessary to minimize the risk of infection in these clients. This includes implementing strict infection control measures such as wearing gowns, gloves, masks, and sometimes goggles to prevent exposure to pathogens. Additionally, maintaining a clean environment and limiting visitors and healthcare personnel who may carry infectious agents are essential components of protective isolation.

A) Allow the client to rest for 10 to 15 seconds after each suctioning attempt: Allowing the client to rest between suctioning attempts helps to minimize hypoxemia and reduces the risk of trauma to the airway mucosa. It also allows the client to recover from the physiological stress of suctioning before initiating another attempt.

C) Apply suction for less than 10 seconds: Prolonged suctioning can lead to hypoxemia and tissue trauma. The nurse should limit suctioning to less than 10 seconds per pass to minimize these risks and prevent complications such as mucosal damage and bleeding.

B) Set the suction pressure to 110 mm Hg: The appropriate suction pressure for endotracheal suctioning depends on various factors, including the client's age, condition, and clinical status. While suction pressures of 80 to 120 mm Hg are commonly used for adults, the specific pressure setting should be individualized based on the client's needs and should not exceed the safe range to prevent mucosal injury or hypoxemia.

D) Apply suction when inserting the catheter: Suction should be applied only during withdrawal of the catheter to minimize the risk of mucosal trauma and hypoxemia. Applying suction during catheter insertion can increase the risk of airway trauma and should be avoided.